Sponsor introduction: Fine Artist Made

Fine Artist Made is a delightful business run by an inspiring couple. Of course, they make wonderful furniture and accessories (which you can buy through their website and Etsy store). But that's just one aspect of Joyce and Patrick's business. They also work on some amazing restoration projects (not excluding their own 1893 home). So I thought it would be fun to share some before and after shots from two of their restoration projects.

Simple Shaker style kitchens and bathrooms are my favourite and I have a penchant for wainscotting, so it will be easy to see why I adore this Joyce and Patrick's work. The photos above show a bathroom renovation they did in an 1875 Italianate home, built by lumber baron George Eaton. The before photo shows a bathroom stuck in the 70's; shiny wallpaper, out-of-date tiles.

Patrick and Joyce sensitively restored it to a more faithful rendering of the home's era, keeping the original pedestal sink and pull chain toilet, which they restored using new and vintage parts from DEA Bathrooms and Portland Architectural Salvage. The also recreated the unusual wainscotting and designed and built a mirror and medicine cabinet to complement. They kept the 1920s tub and tiled it with subway tile. The floor is Daltile octagon and dot.

Another go-to source for Joyce and Patrick is Rejuvenation, where the found gorgeous reproduction faceted glass octagon knobs an exact match to the room's doors for the cabinet doors, as well as a period sconces. But this house surrendered some unexpected treasures too, including the solid nickel towel bars, which were found in the attic and rehung.

The second renovation is of a bathroom in a Second Empire cottage c.1870 (they also renovated the kitchen and downstairs bath in this home). This bathroom was in a similarly dated state with an extra challenge of a mansard roof and curved wall that cut into the space. To minimize the impact of the curved wall, Joyce and Patrick got a claw foot tubthat mimics the curved wall from their plumber. (Joyce recommends asking plumbers and electricians about salvage before hitting the architectural salvage yards!)

They also maximized the space by installing built in drawers with faceted glass knobs and building in a window seat for more storage. And by taking the same cheerful colour from floor to up the ceiling, the effect of the mansard roof is reduced, creating a feeling of tall space.

I love the Fine Artist Made approach to renovations, the sensitive balance between authentic, antique and modern and the extra effort Joyce and Patrick make to find those finishing touches that are faithful to the era of the house, or modern complements to the style. For me, a livable home has to evolve, but I also believe there's much to learn and admire from the past. Fine Artist Made looks forward with one foot in the past, and in the process strikes a beautiful balance.